Climbing

Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter
while participating in climbing and rappelling activities and what
you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond
to these hazards.

Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries
or illnesses that could occur during climbing activities, including
heat and cold reactions, dehydration, stopped breathing, sprains,
abrasions, fractures, rope burns, blisters, snakebite, and insect
bites or stings.

Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR
on a person.

Learn the Leave No Trace principles and Outdoor Code, and explain
what they mean.

Explain how the difficulty of climbs is classified, and apply
classifications to the rock faces or walls where you will demonstrate
your climbing skills.

Explain the following: top-rope climbing, lead climbing, and
bouldering.

Evaluate the safety of a particular climbing area. Consider
weather, visibility, the condition of the climbing surface, and
any other environmental hazards.

Determine how to summon aid to the climbing area in case of
an emergency.

Verbal signals. Explain the importance of using verbal signals
during every climb and rappel, and while bouldering. With the help of
the merit badge counselor or another Scout, demonstrate the verbal signals
used by each of the following:

Climbers

Rappellers

Belayers

Boulderers and their spotters

Rope. Do the following:

Describe the kinds of rope acceptable for use in climbing and
rappelling.

Show how to examine a rope for signs of wear or damage.

Discuss ways to prevent a rope from being damaged.

Explain when and how a rope should be retired.

Properly coil a rope.

Knots. Demonstrate the ability to tie each of the following
knots. Give at least one example of how each knot is used in belaying,
climbing, or rappelling.

Figure eight on a bight

Figure eight follow-through

Water knot

Double fisherman's knot (grapevine knot)

Safety knot

Harnesses. Correctly put on at least ONE of the following:

Commercially made climbing harness

Tied harness

Belaying. Do the following:

Explain the importance of belaying climbers and rappellers
and when it is necessary.

Belay three different climbers ascending a rock face or climbing
wall.

Belay three different rappellers descending a rock face or climbing
wall using a top rope.

Climbing. Do the following:

Show the correct way to tie into a belay rope.

Climb at least three different routes on a rock face or climbing
wall, demonstrating good technique and using verbal signals with
a belayer.

Rappelling. Do the following:

Using a carabiner and a rappel device, secure your climbing
harness to a rappel rope.

Tie into a belay rope set up to protect rappellers.

Rappel down three different rock faces or three rappel routes
on a climbing wall. Use verbal signals to communicate with a belayer,
and demonstrate good rappelling technique.

Demonstrate ways to store rope, hardware, and other gear used for
climbing, rappelling, and belaying.

Note to the Merit Badge Counselor:

Section 7.0.1.1 Qualifications of Counselors, in the 2015 Guide to
Advancement (BSA Publication 33088 - SKU 620573) has specific special
qualifications or certifications for either the merit badge counselor or
the supervisor of certain activities that may be involved with the Climbing
Merit Badge, as follows:

Climbing. All climbing, belaying, and rappelling exercises and activities
must be supervised by a rock climbing instructor who is a mature and
conscientious adult at least 21 years old, and who is trained in BSA
Climb On Safely and understands the risks inherent to these activities.
Training as a BSA climbing Level 2 Instructor is highly recommended.
Someone with certification in First Aid/CPR/AED from the American Red
Cross (or equivalent) must be present at these activities.

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